Multi-Phase Application Profiling and Compilation

Abstract

A computer implemented method manages application execution. A processor set monitors an execution of an application. The processor set collects current profile information for the application in response to detecting a phase change in the execution of the application. The processor set compares the current profile information with previously collected profile information for a number of existing profiles. The processor set patches the application to use an existing specialized body that is an optimized version of a general body that has been optimized for the previously collected profile information for an existing profile in the number of existing profiles in response to the current profile information matching the previously collected profile information for the existing profile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for managing application execution, the computer implemented method comprising:
 monitoring, by a processor set, an execution of an application;   collecting, by the processor set, current profile information for the application in response to detecting a phase change in the execution of the application;   comparing, by the processor set, the current profile information with previously collected profile information for a number of existing profiles; and   patching, by the processor set, the application to use an existing specialized body that is an optimized version of a general body that has been optimized for the previously collected profile information for an existing profile in the number of existing profiles in response to the current profile information matching the previously collected profile information for the existing profile.   
     
     
         2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 compiling, by the processor set, the general body with optimization for the current profile information to form a new specialized body in response to the current profile information not matching the previously collected profile information for the number of existing profiles; and 
 patching, by the processor set, the application to use the new specialized body. 
 
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 saving, by the processor set, the current profile information as part of the previously collected profile information; and 
 associating, by the processor set, the current profile information with the new specialized body. 
 
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 running, by the processor set, the application that has been patched to use the existing specialized body. 
 
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 detecting a frequency of a slow path execution; and 
 determining that the phase change has occurred in response to the frequency of slow path execution exceeding a threshold. 
 
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein collecting, by the processor set, the current profile information comprises:
 compiling, by the processor set, the general body with profiling instrumentation to form an instrumented body;   patching, by the processor set, the application to call the instrumented body;   running, by the processor set, the application using the instrumented body; and   collecting, by the processor set, the current profile information in response to the application using the instrumented body.   
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the current profile information and the previously collected profile information comprises at least one of a function call, a branch, a system call, or an expected value. 
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change is indicated by at least one of a software event, a hardware event, or an external condition. 
     
     
         9 . A computer system comprising:
 a processor set; a set of one or more computer-readable storage media; and   program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, for causing the processor set to perform the following computer operations:   monitor an execution of an application;   collect current profile information for the application in response to detecting a phase change in the execution of the application;   compare the current profile information with previously collected profile information for a number of existing profiles; and   patch the application to use an existing specialized body that is an optimized version of a general body that has been optimized for the previously collected profile information for an existing profile in the number of existing profiles in response to the current profile information matching the previously collected profile information for the existing profile.   
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, further causes the processor set to perform the following computer operations:
 compile, by the processor set, the general body with optimization for the current profile information to form a new specialized body in response to the current profile information not matching the previously collected profile information for the number of existing profiles; and   patching, by the processor set, the application to use the new specialized body.   
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, further causes the processor set to perform the following computer operations:
 save the current profile information as part of the previously collected profile information; and   associate the current profile information with the new specialized body.   
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, further causes the processor set to perform the following computer operations:
 run the application that has been patched to use the existing specialized body.   
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, further causes the processor set to perform the following computer operations:
 detect a frequency of a slow path execution; and   determine that the phase change has occurred in response to the frequency of slow path execution exceeding a threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein in collecting the current profile information, wherein the program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, causes the processor set to perform the following computer operations:
 compile the general body with profiling instrumentation to form an instrumented body;   patch the application to call the instrumented body;   run the application using the instrumented body; and   collect the current profile information in response to running the application using the instrumented body.   
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the current profile information and the previously collected profile information comprises at least one of a function call, a branch, a system call, or an expected value. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the phase change is indicated by at least one of a software event, a hardware event, or an external condition. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product for managing application execution, the computer program product comprising:
 a set of one or more computer-readable storage media;   program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media, for causing a processor set to perform the following computer operations:   monitor an execution of an application;   collect current profile information for the application in response to detecting a phase change in the execution of the application;   compare the current profile information with previously collected profile information for a number of existing profiles; and   patch the application to use an existing specialized body that is an optimized version of a general body that has been optimized for the previously collected profile information for an existing profile in the number of existing profiles in response to the current profile information matching the previously collected profile information for the existing profile.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media further cause the processor set to:
 compile the general body with optimization for the current profile information to form a new specialized body in response to the current profile information not matching the previously collected profile information for the number of existing profiles; and   patch the application to use the new specialized body.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the program instructions, collectively stored in the set of one or more storage media further cause the processor set to:
 save the current profile information as part of the previously collected profile information; and   associate the current profile information with the new specialized body.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 9  further comprising:
 running, by the processor set, the application that has been patched to use the existing specialized body.